Joanne Hounsell, Classical Voice and Choral

Joanne Hounsell is an accomplished artist and inspirational teacher. She has received critical acclaim for her professional work with major symphony orchestra, theater and opera companies across Canada. A native of Newfoundland, Ms. Hounsell graduated from Mount Allison University with a Bachelor Music and Certificate of Excellence in Performance; an Artist Diploma from the University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree in Voice Performance from the University of British Columbia. She continued her training at the Banff School of Fine Arts and as a member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio.

As the Victoria Conservatory of Music Head of Voice, she was instrumental in bringing new life to its young professional program and giving new direction and energy to its existing programs. Ms. Hounsell is the Artistic Director of the St. Michael’s University School Vocal Academy and has been on faculty at the University of Victoria and the University of Lethbridge.  The key influences in her life are the love of music, a belief in the importance of the arts, the training of young artists and a passion for nurturing the arts at all levels.

Reid Spencer, Musical Theatre and Speech Arts

Singer, actor and director, bass-baritone Reid Spencer holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Opera Performance and Pedagogy from the University of British Columbia, and currently teaches voice and music history at Mount Royal College in Calgary. 

While Dr. Spencer is known primarily as a music theatre performer, he studied originally as an actor at the United States International University School of Performing and Visual Arts in San Diego, California, as well as at the Banff School of Fine Arts and the University of Waterloo.  In addition to formal schooling, he has undertaken Masterclasses with teachers such as Uta Hagen, Dean Gilmour, Goldie Semple, Patricia Kern, Richard Mark, Joan Dornemann, Sherrill Milnes, Cornelius Read, and speech classes with David Smukler. Stage roles also show diversity, from farce (Tito Merelli in Lend Me A Tenor) to drama (the Teacher in Durrenmaat’s The Visit).  Dr. Spencer has directed in both the professional and collegiate settings, in opera (Hansel & Gretel, Old Maid and the Thief, Dido and Aeneus, Riders to the Sea, Amahl and the Night Visitors), musical theatre (A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls) and review (The USO at Harmon, Oh Cole!, Vienna to Broadway: A Love Song).  In addition to regional theatres, Dr. Spencer has toured across Canada and to the United Kingdom with the Stratford Festival Company.

Bruce Vogt, Senior Piano

Pianist Bruce Vogt appears regularly in concert within Canada, but has also inspired audiences in the USA, China, Japan, England, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria. His repertoire is extremely diverse, encompassing music from the sixteenth century to the present. He has commissioned and premiered a number of new works by Canadian composers including Murray Adaskin and Alfred Fisher, and he is also an enthusiastic performer on period instruments. His recordings include several volumes of the music of Franz Liszt, which have established for him an enviable reputation as a Liszt interpreter.

Bruce has been a faculty member at the University of Victoria School of Music for the past 29 years and has been the head of piano and a full professor for 18 years. Because he sees teaching and working with young pianists and teachers as an important commitment, Bruce makes himself available as much as possible for master classes, workshops, festivals, and lectures.

Megumi Otani, Junior Piano

An accomplished concert pianist and teacher, Megumi Otani has been studying piano since the age if three.  Born in Tokyo, Japan, she appeared on the NHK ( Japan Broadcasting Corporation) at age of seven.  Since then, she performed in numerous recitals and concerts in both North America and in Japan including as a soloist with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.  With a B.Mus. from the Musashino Music Academy in Tokyo, she came to Canada to pursue her studies further at the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts, the University of Victoria (M.Mus.), studied with Robin Wood, and the University of British Columbia (DMA study), studied with Jane Coop.  Megumi has been a faculty of Douglas College Community Music School since 1990.  Currently, she teaches mainly advanced students at both her private studio and Douglas College Community Music. 


Diane Lane, Strings and Instrumental

Born in Claresholm Alberta, Diane began her violin studies in Lethbridge before attending the Mount Royal Conservatory of Music in Calgary. Diane graduated from McGill University with her Bachelor of Music degree under the tutelage of Yehonatan Berick. During her time in Montreal she had many performance opportunities and played under the direction of, among others, Charles Dutois. Diane continued her studies with Edmond Agopian at the University of Calgary and graduated with a Master’s degree in violin performance in 2003.

Diane is co-founder of players chamber music ensemble and is a member of the Lily String Quartet.  Diane has adjudicated for a number of festivals in Alberta and is an active orchestral and chamber performer, playing with various ensembles in and around Calgary.

Jennifer Quibell, Classical Ballet and Modern Dance

Jennifer Quibell began her dance training at an early age at Kirkwood Academy of  Performing Arts in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island studying Ballet(RAD), Jazz, Tap(CDTA)  & Modern. During these early years she furthered her training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Summer Sessions and L’Ecole de Superieure de Danse in Montreal under the direction of Daniel Sellier. As a versatile dancer and performer she performed with the Royal City Youth Ballet Company in New Westminster in their productions of Nutcracker and Cinderella and with the Vancouver Island Dance Company “Dancestreams”. 

After graduating from high school Jennifer attended Malaspina University/College, taught dance part time and her love of traveling took her on an extensive tour of Europe and Eastern US. It was during this time that she made her decision to return to the world of dance and make teaching dance her career. In 2003, she graduated with Distinction from the 3 year Teacher Training Program at the National Ballet School in Toronto, where she obtained her teaching qualifications in both the Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti syllabi and was the recipient of the Carol Chadwick Award. During her time back east she also taught at the Randolph Academy Junior Division and Pegasus Children’s Dance Centre.

Jennifer continues to teach a variety of disciplines full time at Kirkwood Academy of Performing Arts in Nanaimo.

Laurie Cahoon-Alston  Stage Dance

Laurie’s career in dance spans the globe as a performer, teacher, and choreographer. Originally from Edmonton, Laurie received extensive training in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and musical theatre.  She holds her advanced II certificate with the Royal Academy of Dancing and performed professionally with “Ballet North.” Performances with Ballet North include a tour of Mainland China as a Principal dancer.
 
Industrial credits include Calvin Klein, Lancome, Tommy Hilfiger, the Grand Opening of Casino Niagara, and “Club Firestone” in Florida. She has also appeared as a guest singer on the TV show “Day By Day,” the Tokyo “AKOM” commercial, Berenstein Bears Christmas Show with Paramount Pictures, Legends Alive, a commercial for the Chiropractic Association of Alberta, and most recently a television promo for Cool FM radio in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Laurie has also had the pleasure of doing voice over work in Japan and has also taught dance to figure skaters at the Royal Glenora Club in Edmonton. Recently Laurie had the chance to work with dancers from Beijing’s Capital Normal University and learn some Chinese Cultural dance.
 
Laurie has worked numerous contracts as a lead singer and dancer in Japan at Tokyo Disneyland, playing such fun-loving characters as Belle, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty.  She has enjoyed working in the Cruise-ship industry, dancing throughout Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, parts of the Middle East, and the Caribbean.
 
Laurie’s training has taken her from The RWB, to Randolph’s and Metro Movement in Toronto, The Banff School of Fine Arts, Broadway Dance Center (N.Y. and Tokyo), and EDGE, L.A. 
 
In addition to teaching and performing, Laurie is also a sought after award-winning choreographer, who has taught at many conventions and workshops and has also adjudicated throughout Western Canada and the United States on many different dance faculties. 
 
Currently, Laurie lives in Winnipeg and teaches at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, and for Kids Youth Movement Company. She enjoys meeting and teaching young dancers who continue to inspire her with their determination and love of dance.